CLEVELAND - Meteorologists across the Plains are watching the skies this afternoon for the threat of a tornado outbreak that will last into Thursday.

The National Severe Storms Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, is warning that large and long tracking tornadoes are possible from northern Texas through much of Oklahoma, central Missouri and southern Kansas.

A powerful upper level storm system over the Rockies will move east and run into a warm front moving north across the southern Plains, bringing plenty of gulf moisture into the system.

Severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes are expected ahead and along of this front which will affect large population centers like Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman and Wichita Falls, Texas.

The moderate risk of storms will move east and north on Thursday with much of the central U.S. from northern Indiana to northern Mississipi under the threat for severe storms and possible tornadoes.

The western part of Ohio will be under a "slight risk" for severe weather Thursday afternoon and that will likely shift east into northeast Ohio Thursday evening.